Atlanta: Free Attractions

It seems like when I travel there are a number of cities that I pass through and wished I had a reason to stop. If only you knew of all the free things to do, you'd probably stop and visit at least one attraction.

Here is my list of Top Ten Attractions to see for free in Atlanta.....

1) Martin Luther King Jr Historic Site. Both admission and parking are free. Capture the dream and visit the historic site which includes a tour of the birth home of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Visit this Freedom Road exhibit to see documentation and the memorial to the foot soldiers of the Civil Rights Movement.

2) Visit the Hall of Valor in the Georgia Capitol Museum for a great display of historic battle flags. The museum also houses educational materials which maintain the history of the Georgia State Capitol Building itself, along with minerals from the state's soil and works of art.

3) Centennial Olympic Park has free live music concerts at noon April thru October. It also houses the Fountain of Rings which is a show where synchronized water dances to music and is complete with sound and light effects.

4) The Atlanta Jazz Festival is one of the country's largest free jazz festival which lasts the full month of May. There are free performances throughout the month with many renown artists. The festival also has a health fair and jazz film festival. There's something fun for kids of all ages.

5) Stop by Grant Park for some fun and in August visit the Summer Shad Festival. The festival features an Artist Market, food vendors and fun run. There's also live performances at the park and a children's fun center.

6) Enjoy a Walk Through Time in Georgia which is one of the permanent exhibits at the Fernbank Museum of Natural History. Other permanent exhibits include Giants of the Mosaic, The Children's Discovery Room, a World of Shells, and Sensing Nature.

7) The Fernbank Science Center's slogan "Fernbank....where science becomes an adventure", gives you an idea what the museum is like. The museum utilizes 2 and 3 dimensional exhibits to educate and increase the awareness of the general public while entertaining them through exciting displays.

8) Enjoy the walking tour of Inman Park. Visit Atlanta's first trolley suburb and enjoy the architecture and the elegance of the homes from the Victorian period.

9) Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park is the site of three battlefields of the Civil War. The 2,884 acre park is filled with hardwoods and streams. There are monuments memorializing the groups that fought there, along with cannon emplacements and other historical remains.

10) The Downtown Connects Card is not only free, but a must. It provides discounts to residents and visitors alike. Just to name a few, some of the discount offerings include the World of Coca-Cola, The Children's Museum of Atlanta and Inside CNN Atlanta. Also provided are discounts on shopping and dining and can be found at any of the participating affiliates or downloaded on the web.

Atlanta is full of many more parks and live jazz music is always happening, so take time to stop if you're passing through, or make special plans to visit Atlanta today!